Thus it came to be that Youning Emperor had just received Shen Xihe's memorial accusing Xiao Changmin of crimes, before he could even send someone to summon Xiao Changmin, Xiao Changmin proactively appeared before the Emperor to confess his wrongdoings and repent, while completely shifting the blame away from himself.
He claimed he had merely drunk too much and spoken some drunken words. Who would have thought these people would be so audacious, ostensibly trying to curry favor with him, but likely deliberately framing him behind his back to sow discord between him and the Crown Prince.
Youning Emperor couldn't be bothered to distinguish truth from falsehood. Since the accuser was Shen Xihe, the Emperor naturally didn't want to grant her wishes. Since Xiao Changmin had already cleaned up his tracks, the Emperor decided to make a big show of punishment while actually delivering only light consequences.
Nothing that happened in the capital could escape Xiao Huayong if he wished to know. By dusk, he had already learned who had persuaded Xiao Changmin to cut his losses in time.
Just then, Shen Xihe returned home. Xiao Huayong went to greet her, eagerly offering hot tea. After she changed clothes, he said: "Second Brother has escaped unscathed."
He then informed her how Xiao Changmin had voluntarily confessed while pushing the blame onto scapegoats.
"He won because of His Majesty's dislike for me," Shen Xihe remarked calmly after listening.
Youning Emperor detested her for revealing her sharp claws, wishing he could eliminate her. However, the Emperor could find no handle against her, dared not easily set traps, and still had to consider her father and brother in the northwest. Thus he could only feel both disgusted and helpless.
Xiao Huayong didn't deny this. He could only change the subject: "It was Pingyao Marquis who persuaded Second Brother. It seems the Pingyao Marquis residence hides a shrewd person. I misjudged."
A face flashed through Shen Xihe's mind. She shook her head slightly: "You didn't misjudge - you simply never paid them any attention."
Having been married to Xiao Huayong for so long, she knew he didn't look down on women, nor would he deliberately belittle them, and he lacked most men's conventional view of women being confined to domestic life, limited to managing households and raising children.
But he rarely paid attention to women. Perhaps over all these years, the only woman he had ever bothered to notice was probably just her.
"The Yu family's second daughter," Xiao Huayong remembered as soon as Shen Xihe reminded him.
Actually, Shen Xihe had discussed this Yu family's second daughter with him once or twice before, but he had dismissed her inner-quarter machinations. This time was somewhat different.
"She fears me. Anything related to me, she becomes particularly cautious about," Shen Xihe explained to Xiao Huayong. It wasn't that Yu Sangning had matured, but that Yu Sangning was too afraid of her.
"My Youyou, with your breathtaking beauty, someone actually fears you to this extent? Their vision must be impaired." Xiao Huayong propped his chin with one hand, gazing intently at Shen Xihe without blinking.
Somehow, Shen Xihe couldn't help the corners of her lips lifting slightly, shaking her head with a gentle smile.
Surprisingly, she didn't show him her usual helpless expression, making Xiao Huayong feel as if he had swallowed honey, sweetness spreading through his heart. He grinned with a rather foolish-looking smile.
Seeing this, Shen Xihe sighed softly, shaking her head with an expression of resignation. "It's time to give the Yu family some warning."
Those who dare to save people from her grasp must pay a heavy price.
Xiao Huayong suddenly sat upright, starlight shimmering in his dark eyes, his face full of anticipation: "How may I be of service to Youyou?"
Causing trouble for others was what he excelled at.
Moreover, such matters should never dirty his Youyou's hands.Grinning at Xiao Huayong with a flash of teeth, Shen Xihe gently placed her soft, slender hand on his shoulder. "Just keep playing your part as the ailing Crown Prince. With Prince Xin and Prince Jing both present, don't let any flaws show."
Xiao Huayong clasped her hand, his eyes pleading. "Youyou, I've been lying around so long my bones have gone soft."
Hearing this, Shen Xihe gave his shoulder a light squeeze. "Still firm enough—you can manage a few more days."
"As your husband, how could I let Youyou handle the disciplining..." Xiao Huayong argued weakly.
"Who said I'd do it myself?" Shen Xihe replied with a mysterious smile. "I prefer borrowing a blade to kill."
The next day, Shen Xihe waited for Xiao Changyan at the county office. "Prince Jing, a moment please."
Xiao Changyan looked surprised. "What instructions does my royal sister-in-law have?"
"Instructions are too strong a word." Shen Xihe held an account ledger. "Currently, Wendeng County has ample grain supplies, with more arriving in an orderly manner. Though neighboring counties aren't facing floods as severe as Wendeng's, and the rainfall is less fierce, they've still suffered disasters. Since we now have surplus provisions, I'd like to allocate some to them. Where is Prince Yan? I realize I haven't known his whereabouts—it's my fault, really. Since the Crown Prince and I arrived, we've been swamped with matters. I only asked you about him on the first day and haven't had time to check since."
Xiao Changyan's eyes flickered. "Twelfth Brother is in Rongcheng County."
Shen Xihe nodded. "I'll send supplies to Rongcheng County right away. For Prince Yan to manage a county alone at such a young age is truly remarkable. As his elder brother and sister-in-law, the Crown Prince and I ought to encourage and comfort him."
With that, Shen Xihe turned and left.
Xiao Changyan felt something was amiss. Shen Xihe had tacitly assumed he maintained contact with Xiao Changgeng—which was true, as they had come together, and he had kept Xiao Changgeng's disappearance under wraps. If Shen Xihe sent supplies to Rongcheng County but Xiao Changgeng wasn't found, his claim of ignorance would be implausible. If someone hadn't contacted him for so long, he should have informed Xiao Huayong or reported to His Majesty earlier.
"Your Highness, the Twelfth Prince has been trying to escape, believing he's been captured by bandits with no rescue in sight," an advisor reported after hearing Xiao Changyan's concerns.
"Do you think the Crown Princess is attempting a rescue?" Xiao Changyan suddenly asked.
"This..." The advisor hesitated. Shen Xihe's inquiry about Xiao Changgeng seemed reasonable, without any apparent ulterior motive.
"Your Highness, I believe Prince Yan isn't aligned with the Crown Princess," the advisor ventured boldly. "Prince Yan once openly praised her in your presence and revealed his feelings for her. Moreover, if the Crown Princess had allied with Prince Yan, she wouldn't have chosen Prince Xin instead."
Xiao Changgeng was clearly a better choice than Xiao Changqing—Xiao Changqing was difficult to control and a match for Shen Xihe, whereas Xiao Changgeng was no rival for her.
After a moment's silence, Xiao Changyan said, "Now I'm in a bind. Even if I return Twelfth Brother, how do I ensure he doesn't reveal he's been missing for days?"
Should he personally appear and tell Xiao Changgeng it was all a test?The advisor came up with a plan: "Your Highness, matters in Wendeng County have been progressing steadily. Why not seek out the Crown Princess to take over the task of delivering supplies to Rongcheng County, then personally lead the rescue of Prince Yan? You can inform him that you have been secretly investigating his disappearance and have not disclosed the matter."
This seemed to be the only viable solution.
The following day, Xiao Changyan approached Shen Xihe. After a brief moment of contemplation, Shen Xihe agreed.
However, he failed to notice the profoundly meaningful gaze Shen Xihe cast upon him as he departed the city.
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